Content for teachers and students about robotics in our world. Is robotics the Perfect Platform for 21st Century Learning? Read on!.. Would you like your student robotics activities presented here? Leave a comment or email me. And check out Robotics for Teachers PODCAST @ http://www.roboticsforteachers.com/

"LEGO Life is a new social network where kids can share their creations"

"Club Penguin may be shutting down,
but there’s a new social network for kids arriving today from LEGO. The
company known for its physical blocks and building sets is launching LEGO Life,
a safe, online space where kids can share their LEGO creations, and
connect with a broader community. Available as an iOS and Android
application, the social network is aimed at those under the age of 13,
with protections in place to ensure the site remains child-friendly.

According to the company, the idea for the network came about by
watching how kids shared their creations in the LEGO Club Magazine’s
“Cool Creations” section, and posted stories and photos of their LEGO
building to the company’s message boards. LEGO Life means to translate
that same activity to an online world, while also offering tools to
inspire future building, ways to earn rewards, and a means of commenting
on others’ creations.

LEGO Life can be personalized to the individual user, each of whom
will have their own newsfeed that’s customized to their interests. Users
are prompted to follow their favorite topics and groups, like those
dedicated to animals, vehicles, superheroes, and more. The feed will
include posts from LEGO Master Builders, as well, which will show off
some of the more impressive creations.
Kids get to interact with some LEGO characters, including Master Wu
from LEGO NINJAGO, and Emma from LEGO Friends, and LEGO BATMAN. These
characters will appear on the network to comment on members’ builds,
which are shared by way of photo uploads. The characters will also share
other building inspiration, the company says.

There are also LEGO videos to watch, LEGO news updates, quizzes, and other activities.

As part of its safety features, LEGO Life includes its own custom
emoji keyboard which kids use when they’re talking about their own
creations or commenting on those from others. This keyboard replaces the
text when commenting on the user-generated content, explains LEGO. That
leaves little room for online bullying to take place, and these emoji
comments are moderated.
To further keep kids protected, the network is locked down in a
number of ways. The company says it worked with UNICEF on its set of
safety features.

The app prohibits sharing of personal info or photos that could be
used to identify or locate players, and users’ avatars are just
customized LEGO characters. Kids can’t directly chat with each other,
only comment. And kids’ user names are generated for them, using a
random name generator that comes up with silly 3-word mixes, like
“DukeCharmingShrimp” or “ChairmanWilyDolphin.”

Unlike other kids’ social networks, the site doesn’t sell memberships
or ask you to pay for items, but it does feature ads for LEGO products.

Click on book cover for information

Getting Started with LEGO Robotics. Anyone who
works with kids can do LEGO Robotics, a rich and highly motivating
platform for important STEM Learning! (surprisingly affordable, too)
This books explains it all!

The Top Five Unexpected Benefits of Robotics in the Classroom

"As teachers, we’re well aware that STEM education is essential in preparing students for today’s world of non-stop innovation...

"...curriculum fads come and
go, but the use of robotics in the classroom has proven to be a
consistent and surefire way to teach students the STEM skills needed to
prepare them for the future job market. I’ve seen firsthand how it
teaches students 21st-century skills including coding, engineering and
the scientific method in a fun and engaging way..." There are so many other incredible things that students learn in addition to STEM curriculum. Here are five
unexpected benefits:

1. Robotics can be a launching pad for students to realize their passions.
By going through the process of building a robot in the classroom,
students explore many different learning pathways. It’s amazing to watch
students’ passions grow in subjects that they never knew they would
love.
Some of my students have cultivated an interest in 3D printing and
coding, and have even gone as far as to take apart household appliances
because they have a new-found interest in mechanics. You can watch these
students build their own learning pathways because robotics offers them
an open platform where they can decide where to go with their
experimentations. For teachers, a robotics curriculum naturally allows
us to take an individualized approach to each student’s learning,
helping to nurture their passions even further.2. A strong robotics curriculum can create leaders.
When students interact with robots in the classroom and make them
perform various motions and tasks, your students’ different strengths
will start to shine.
When assembling robots in teams, some students are great at speaking
and can verbally bring ideas to life. On the flipside, there are
students who may not be as vocal but they lead behind the scenes: they
code, perform technical tasks and/or makes sure the team stays on task.
Through the exercise of putting the robot together and making it move,
these two types of students—both leaders in their own right—learn to
communicate as a team and express their ideas to craft the best end
result. The ability to come together as different types of leaders,
communicate with each other and utilize their personal strengths will be
essential throughout these students’ lives, no matter if they become an
artist, a business executive or an engineer.3. Robotics can teach students how to communicate across different technology platforms.
Social media has become a part of our everyday lives and using it is
as innate for students today as using the telephone was when I was a
teenager. There are plenty of good things about social media — but also
many potential dangers and things that you want your students to avoid.
My classroom has a five-foot robot named Twitch. Twitch has his own Twitter account (@BMS_Theory)
that the students update every day with what Twitch is doing or what
we’re working on in class. As much as robotics teaches students how to
code and flex their math and science muscles, it can also help show them
how to navigate sending a tweet, how to write a blog post or respond
when a company says, “we want you to test our product.”
Through this extension of robotics, my students are learning how to
communicate across different technology platforms, understand the
audience of these different platforms and gain experience crafting
effective messages for the various audiences—a crucial skill that we all
need to be familiar with, no matter what career path we follow.
4. Robotics can lead to community involvement.
I’ve personally seen the numerous benefits of student community
involvement, including increased attendance, higher grades, a sense of
greater security, fewer behavioral problems and an increase in positive
attitudes about school and homework. However, I’ve also witnessed youth
struggle to find positive ways to get involved with their communities
and don’t know where to look for resources on how to get started.
Teaching robotics in the classroom can create a sense of community within the classroom that expands to the outside community
in which you live. I’ve had students go out and present their robots at
our local art museum and various technology fairs. It’s their show and
their product, so the students naturally take ownership and pride over
what is presented.
Through opportunities like these, students begin seeing robotics as
more than a project for a grade but rather as a tool that can inspire
others. Nine times out of ten, seasoned professionals build the robots
they see on TV, and getting started can certainly feel intimidating. But
when you have young students teaching others how to build robots, many
will think to themselves, “I can do that.” The next thing you know,
another mind is interested in STEM!5. Robotics teaches essential teamwork skills.
The STEM skills that robotics teach are great for inspiring
tomorrow’s engineers. However, I realize that not all of my students are
going to work for NASA or even work in a science and math-related
field. Yet some of the teamwork skills they learn through robotics are
ones they will use for the rest of their life.
When students work in groups on a project with a robot they quickly
see that technical skills, such as coding, are very important.
However, their robot won’t move if they don’t know how to collaborate
with others and communicate their ideas. Through robotics in the
classroom, students learn how to express themselves and listen and
relate to others— honing valuable life skills..."Read the full article at its source: http://www.gettingsmart.com/2016/11/unexpected-benefits-robotics-in-the-classroom/

Five Reasons to Teach Robotics in Schools

"In today’s’ technology-driven world, it’s important now more than
ever to prepare students for the future. Teaching robotics to young
students throughout their schooling can increase their ability to be
creative and innovative thinkers and more productive members of society.
Many governments have already recognized the importance of robotics in
the classroom and have begun to create programs and laws that would
incorporate it into their public education system. By teaching our
students the basics of robotics, we can open a whole new world to them
and exciting opportunities that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

1. An Introduction to Programming
Learning to program a computer is an excellent skill to have to make
students more likely to get a job in the future, and earn more money in
their lifetime. Teaching young students the abstract subject of
programming can be a challenging feat. Programming is often too complex
for most students to grasp. Robotics is a simpler to understand and more
tangible introduction to programming.
When students program physical robots, it’s easier for them to see
what goes wrong as they learn what robots can and cannot do. They learn
the skills needed to create precise and accurate instructions and have
fun while learning valuable lessons. Teaching robotics in schools gives
students the opportunity to address the growing demand of teaching STEM
subjects while learning how science, engineering, math, and technology
work together and interact.2. Increases Creativity
Robotics is a production-based learning module. Students have the
opportunity to create something tangible and make it perform the actions
that they program it to do. Not a lot of fields combine creativity with
engineering and technology—robotics does. When students are given the
opportunity to create something interactive that they think is cool,
their engagement levels increase, and they retain more information. You
might be surprised at the things kids can create when given the right
information and tools.3. Prepare them for the future
It’s no secret that jobs in the STEM field are the fastest growing careers, and are projected to grow another 17 percent in the next decade. Industries such as the drone industry has grown dramatically and rapidly in the last couple of years. The Economist
has reported that more than 15,000 drones are being sold in the US
every month. Growing industries such as these are going to need people
who can come up with new and innovative ideas, and be equipped with the
knowledge to design and create the technology needed.
By the time all of our students graduate in a few years or so, over
half of the available jobs will be in the STEM field and a large chunk
of the rest will require employees to have some STEM knowledge. When
students are introduced to robotics in their school years, they can
discover any interests and talents that they may have in this job
market. Without the knowledge or access to robotics education, there’s
no way for students to build interest in these fields. Without robotics
education in public schools, who knows how many potential creators and
innovators there are who were never given the resources to realize their
potential.4. Teaching Children How to Turn Frustration into Innovation
Learning how to build and program a robot can be a complex and
difficult process. Many students will struggle with the concepts at
first and often get frustrated. Robotics in schools can help these
students turn their frustration into creativity and innovation. This is a
valuable life lesson that teaches our students perseverance and
determination when faced with challenges. Students learning robotics are
able to channel their frustration into trying harder and aiming higher.
All their hard work makes looking at that finished product even sweeter
at the end. Not only does teaching students robotics teach them how to
persist and solve problems, but it also helps them increase their
maturity levels and prepare them for real-world situations.5. Promoting Inclusivity
Robotics is a field that is easily accessible to a wide range of
students with varying talents and skills. Studies have shown robots do a
great job of engaging students on the autism spectrum.
A child with autism are able to easily respond to the consistent, calm,
and clean interactions that robots give them. Robots like ASK NAO and Milo have been developed to aid autistic students with learning and understanding their emotions.
Robotics is also a field that has the ability to empower young girls
in the classroom. STEM-focused fields are traditionally male dominated,
leaving young girls to question their ability to program or build
computers. Because the tech world is not one that focuses on or is
created for girls, by engaging them with robotics and technology in the
classroom we can begin to change that..."Read the full article at its source: http://www.thetechedvocate.org/five-reasons-to-teach-robotics-in-schools/

..The machines were accompanied by their creators: 2,500 competitors,
ages six to 25, from more than 60 countries, at the 14th World Robot
Olympiad (WRO) held Nov. 10–12. This was the first time in the event’s
14-year history that it was held outside Asia. As host, Costa Rica had
to decide the competition’s theme and chose “Sustainabots”—robots
designed to contribute to sustainability, conservation and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The conservation-minded Central American country, which has over 25
percent of its territory under protected areas, has launched official
efforts to eventually become a carbon-neutral nation by drastically
minimizing the use of fossil fuels for power generation and
transportation.

Visitors strolling through the Olympiad’s exhibit booths found
robotic approaches to reducing CO2 emissions from cars in streets of
Mumbai; to quickly growing cattle feed without clearing land; and to
venturing into the forest to count trees, map their locations, identify
their species and determine dozens of other characteristics that might
otherwise be carried out by a human botanist.

“For the youngsters, this is not only a way for them to view science
and technology as something fun and playful, but also for them to see
how science, technology and engineering can solve problems that we have
as a planet—challenges such as climate change, renewable energies and
sustainable tourism,” said Carolina Vásquez-Soto, Costa Rica’s Minister
of Science, Technology and Telecommunications.
The competition venue—the 9,000-square-meter Parque Viva exhibit
hall—rang with languages from around the world. But the competitors
seemed to understand each other through a shared love of building and
programming robots. “Our main objective is to make children and
teenagers fall in love with science and technology. Robotics is one of
many tools by which you can achieve that,” said Alejandra Sánchez, a
mechanical and electrical engineer who teaches robotics at the
University of Costa Rica and was a key organizer of the event.

The contest was not just about sustainability; one of its highlights
was a robotic soccer tournament mimicking a FIFA World Cup. In front of
bleachers covered in flags and fans from their resepective homelands,
teams from some 60 countries—each represented by two soccer-playing
robots—faced each other. The winners of each match advanced to the next
round until the final game was won by Taiwan, playing under the name
“Chinese Taipei.” At another popular event, college students unleashed
their robots to score as many points as possible in “Tetrastack,” a
real-world, three-dimensional version of the video game Tetris.
Meanwhile, elementary and high school students minded robots (built
using Lego Mindstorm pieces) that took on challenges related to
sustainable tourism, carbon neutrality, and renewable and clean energy.
Russia was the big winner, taking home the gold in all three categories.

According to Sánchez, the $1.2-million Olympiad received support from
the Costa Rican government and private local sponsors. It was organized
by Aprender Haciendo (Learn Through Doing)—the representative of LEGO
education for Costa Rica and Panama—in collaboration with the National
Center for High Technology and the country’s Ministry of Science,
Technology and Telecommunications. Next year the World Robotic Olympiad
will be hosted by Thailand.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Click on book cover for information

Getting Started with LEGO Robotics. Anyone who works with kids can do LEGO Robotics, a rich and highly motivating platform for important STEM Learning! (surprisingly affordable, too) This books explains it all!